Monday, October 20, 2014

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. JUANITO ABELLA,
DIOSDADO GRANADA, BENJAMIN DE GUZMAN, and EDGARDO
VALENCIA,accused-appellants.

D E C I S I O N

DAVIDE, JR., C.J.:

It all started with an altercation during a basketball game. Three days
later, or on 10 March 1992, the bodies of MARLON[1] Ronquillo; JOSEPH
Ronquillo; ERWIN Lojero; ANDRES Lojero, Jr.; and FELIX Tamayo were
fished out of the murky waters of the Pasig River, filthy, bloated,
putrid, and decomposing. Postmortem examinations on the cadavers showed
signs of foul play.

MARLON’s hands were tied at the back with a black electric cord. He had
lacerated wounds, contusions, ligature marks and hematoma. He died
from a gunshot wound on the head.[2]

ANDRES’ hands were bound at the back with a plastic flat rope with four
loops. His genitals were cut off; and he had ligature marks,
contusions, and hematoma. The cause of his death was “asphyxia by
strangulation; hemorrhage, intracranial, traumatic.”[3]

JOSEPH’s hands were “hog-tied at the back using a basketball T-shirt.”
He also had ligature marks, contusions, lacerated wounds and fracture.
He died of “asphyxia by strangulation; hemorrhage, intracranial,
traumatic with skull fracture.”[4]

ERWIN’s body showed abrasions and burns. There were cord impressions on
his wrists and depressed fracture on his head and at the base of his
skull. He died of “asphyxia by drowning with blunt head injury.”[5]

FELIX had abrasions on the left cheek and tie impressions on the wrists. The cause of his death was “asphyxia by drowning.”[6]

On 18 March 1992, five informations for murder were filed before the
Regional Trial Court of Manila (hereafter the trial court) against
Juanito ABELLA, Diosdado GRANADA, Benjamin DE GUZMAN, Edgardo VALENCIA,
Renato Dante, and Virgilio de Guzman. The cases were raffled to Branch
52 presided over by the late Judge David Nitafan. Docketed as Criminal
Cases Nos. 92-104529 to -33, the informations[7] identically read as
follows:

That on or about March 8, 1992, in the City of Manila, Philippines, the
said accused, conspiring and confederating together with others whose
true names, real identities and present whereabouts are still unknown
and helping one another, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and
feloniously, with intent to kill and with treachery and evident
premeditation, attack, assault and use personal violence upon one Marlon
Ronquillo y Alepda [(Criminal Case No. 92-104529), one Felix Tamayo y
Pascual (Criminal Case No. 92-104530), one Andres Lojero, Jr. y Pascual
(Criminal Case No. 92-104531), one Joseph Ronquillo y Alepda [(Criminal
Case No. 92-104532), one Erwin Lojero y Pascual (Criminal Case No.
92-104533)] by then and there hitting his head with guns, kicking him,
tying his hands, [neck and private organ (additional allegation in
Criminal Case No. 92-104531)] and thereafter throwing his body into the
river thereby inflicting upon the latter mortal wounds which were the
direct and immediate cause of his death thereafter.

Contrary to law. [Enclosures supplied].

On 25 March 1992, the informations were amended to include three other
accused, namely, Joselito Crespo, Bienvenido Dugay and Danilo
Abarete.[8] Upon arraignment all the accused pleaded not guilty to the
charges against them. On 26 August 1992, Joselito Crespo, Renato Dante,
Bienvenido Dugay, Danilo Abarete and Virgilio de Guzman were dropped
from the information.[9]

The prosecution’s version of the events is as follows: In the morning
of 7 March 1992, MARLON, JOSEPH, and an unidentified companion played
three rounds of basketball against the team of JOEY de los Santos at the
vicinity of Dalisay and Lakas Streets, Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila. The
Ronquillos won the first two rounds; but the third round ended in a
brawl, which the neighbors quickly pacified. JOEY later went back to
Dalisay Street carrying two pillboxes. A certain Donald Ancheta saw
him, took the pillboxes and turned them over to a policeman.[10]

On 8 March 1992, between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., JOEY and his brother GENER
threw stones at the Ronquillos’ house, attracting the attention of
neighbors, who forthwith ran after the brothers. JOEY and GENER were
overtaken and mauled before they were released.[11]

Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. of the same day, WILFREDO Lojero, a certain
Daniel, and the victims were in front of the Ronquillos’ house in Lakas
Street, trading stories while awaiting a certain Aling Flor.[12]
JOSEPHINE del Rosario was then at the corner of Lakas Street on her way
to a friend’s house when the victims called her and asked her about her
mother, who was a barangay kagawad at Bacood. They told her that they
were waiting for Aling Flor to report to her that JOEY and GENER threw
stones at the Ronquillos’ house.[13] Later, EVELYN de la Cruz joined the
group in the conversation.[14] The area was then illuminated by a
streetlight at the corner of Damayan and Dalisay Streets about ten
arms-length away.

Suddenly, a dirty white Ford Fiera without a plate number stopped in
front of the group. There were about ten to thirteen people on board.
Among them were JOEY and GENER, who looked out of the van and pointed at
the victims. All the passengers except for JOEY and GENER alighted.
Their faces were covered with black handkerchiefs, and they were armed.
Someone shouted, “Pulis ito!” Another exclaimed, “Walang tatakbo!” FELIX
ran but stopped when shots were fired; he was hit with a gun then
dragged into the van. WILFREDO Lojero, however, managed to sneak into
the Ronquillos’ house and was able to see everything. The other victims
were boxed, kicked, and also hit with a gun and dragged into the van.
Before the van sped away, one of the abductors warned JOSEPHINE, “Ikaw
huwag kang maingay, wala kang nakita, wala kang narinig.”[15]

Meanwhile, at about 6:00 p.m. inside the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), Sta.
Ana compound in Bacood, ELENA Bernardo was waiting for Pastor Cesar
Almedina to seek his advice regarding her son-in-law’s problem. Pastor
Almedina asked her to wait, and she did so. She waited until 10:00 p.m.
Suddenly the guard switched off the lights inside the compound. With
only the MERALCO light illuminating the compound from outside, she saw a
dirty white Ford Fiera loaded with passengers enter and park in front
of the pastoral house near the path leading to the basement. JOEY,
GENER, all the accused and the victims were inside the van. Four of the
victims were made to alight from the van, while the fifth one lay on
the floor of the vehicle as though dead. The victims were brought to
the basement, which was at the back of the chapel and beneath the choir
office. ELENA followed. Inside the basement the victims were
continually mauled, whipped with a gun, and beaten with steel tubes,
lead pipes and other blunt instruments. One of the victims was tied
with wire. Filemon Garcia arrived with a blowtorch and also entered the
basement. ELENA heard the victims beg for mercy. Unable to endure the
sight she sat in front of the chapel and stayed for 30 minutes. Pastor
Almedina arrived and told her that they would talk about her problem at
another time. Afterwards the victims were herded back to the Fiera.
They seemed almost dead.[16]

On 10 March 1992, at 8:45 a.m., the lifeless body of FELIX was found
floating on the Pasig River near Beata-Tawiran in Pandacan. At 12:25
p.m., ERWIN’s body was retrieved from the same river at the back of the
Sta. Ana market. At about the same time, the decomposing bodies of
ANDRES, MARLON and JOSEPH were also fished out of the Pasig River near
Lambingan Bridge.[17]

SPO3 Myrna Ricasa prepared the crime report and was part of the group
that conducted the police line-up on 13 March 1992. Witnesses to the
abduction identified the accused from among five line-ups. JOSEPHINE
identified ABELLA as among the passengers of the Ford Fiera. EVELYN
pointed to GRANADA; Roy Ronquillo and Noel Estorel, who were not
presented as witnesses, identified DE GUZMAN and VALENCIA,
respectively.[18]

Appellants advanced alibi as their defense. They all claim to have
attended the panata at the Punta Sta. Ana chapel on 8 March 1992 from
8:00 to 10:00 p.m., save for ABELLA whose attendance was excused. The
panata is a religious practice of the INC held for seven consecutive
days as preparation for the santa cena or holy supper. In 1992, the
panata was held from 8 to 14 March 1992 and the santa cena, on 15 March
1992.[19] VALENCIA testified that after the panata on 8 March 1992, he
went home to San Juan, Metro Manila; it was then about 11:00 p.m.[20]
For his part, GRANADA claimed that after attending the panata, he left
the Iglesia compound with Filemon and Marilou Garcia. The three arrived
at the Garcia residence in Bacood, Sta. Mesa, at 11:00 p.m. Filemon and
GRANADA had snacks and watched two movies on the video player. It was
already past midnight when GRANADA went home.[21]GRANADA’s testimony was
corroborated by both Filemon and Marilou.[22]

ABELLA was a member of the PNP highway patrol group assigned to Mobile
Unit No. 13 in March of 1992. His tour of duty was from 2:00 to 10:00
p.m. He was previously granted exemption from attending the panata.
Together with PO3 Ferdinand Parolina, he patrolled Roxas Boulevard from
the corner of T.M. Kalaw St. to the corner of Vito Cruz St. on 8 March
1992. ABELLA and Parolina parted ways at 10:15 p.m.[23] PO3 Parolina,
who drove the mobile car, corroborated ABELLA’s testimony.[24]

According to former accused Bienvenido Tugay, on 11 March 1992 at 11:00
p.m., Major Joe Pring arrived at the Iglesia compound in Punta, Sta.
Ana, with police officers, demanding entrance inside the premises.
Since there was no order from his superior allowing outsiders to enter
the compound, Tugay refused. Enraged, Pring asked for the names of
Tugay’s companions. Tugay enumerated the names of appellants.[25]

The following day, appellants read their names in newspapers as among
the perpetrators of the crime. Alarmed, they consulted the INC Central
Office on what steps to take. Accompanied by Atty. Restituto Lazaro of
the Iglesia’s legal department, appellants proceeded to see Gen. Diokno
at the Western Police District Headquarters on 13 March 1992 “to clear
their names.” Major Pring brought them to his office and hurriedly
organized a police line-up. During the line-up Major Pring allegedly
tapped all the accused on the shoulder as a signal to the prosecution
witnesses for identifying them. Accordingly, appellants were
identified.[26]

On 7 February 1995, after several instances where defense counsel
questioned his orders and doubted his partiality, Judge Nitafan
inhibited himself from further hearing the cases. The cases were
re-raffled to Branch 35 presided over by Judge Ramon P. Makasiar, who
penned the decision on 15 November 1996 convicting the accused.[27] The
dispositive portion reads:

WHEREFORE, judgment is rendered pronouncing the four accused in these
cases: JUANITO ABELLA y GARCIA, DIOSDADO GRANADA y SALCEDO, BENJAMIN DE
GUZMAN y LABASAN, and EDGARDO VALENCIA y VILLANUEVA guilty beyond
reasonable doubt of MURDER on five (5) counts, and sentencing each of
them to the penalties of five (5) reclusion perpetua, and to pay the
costs in proportionate shares.

The said four accused are further ordered, jointly and severally, to pay:

To Erlinda Ronquillo and Betty Ronquillo

P91,607.70 for actual damages,

P500,000.00 to each of them for moral damages,

P500,000.00 to each of them for exemplary damages;

To Domingo Tamayo

P33,125.50 for actual damages,

P500,000 for moral damages,

P500,000 for exemplary damages;

To Andres Lojero, Sr.

P60,716.00 for actual damages,

P1,000,000.00 for moral damages,

P1,000,000.00 for exemplary damages.

SO ORDERED.[28]

This decision was amended to include an award of P50,000 as indemnity for the death of each of the victims.[29]

Appellants are now before us contending that the trial court erred:

I

IN FINDING THAT THERE WAS POSITIVE AND CLEAR IDENTIFICATION OF THE ACCUSED IN THE ALLEGED ABDUCTION OF THE VICTIMS;

II

IN GIVING CREDENCE TO THE TESTIMONY OF ALLEGED EYEWITNESS ELENA BERNARDO;

III

IN HOLDING THAT CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE ADDUCED BY THE PROSECUTION IS SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN CONVICTION;

IV

IN FINDING ACCUSED’S DEFENSE OF ALIBI WEAK;

V

IN HOLDING THAT TREACHERY WAS PRESENT TO QUALIFY THE CRIME TO MURDER; and

VI

IN RULING THAT THE VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF THE ACCUSED DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE.[30]

As to the first assignment of error, appellants contend that reliance on
the testimonies of JOSEPHINE and EVELYN is misguided. In JOSEPHINE’s
testimony she expressly named the abductors as GRANADA and a
“good-looking guy,” referring to ABELLA, who “could be easily
remembered”; but in her sworn statement she only mentioned GRANADA.
Such omission of an important detail casts doubt on the veracity of her
identification of ABELLA. Neither did EVELYN identify ABELLA, De Guzman
and Valencia during the police line-up and in her sworn statement of 11
March 1992, although she pointed to all appellants when she testified
in court. That GRANADA was recognized both by JOSEPHINE and EVELYN in a
dimly lit place at night because of his gray hair is likewise unworthy
of belief.

Appellants claim in their second assignment of error that ELENA’s
testimony was a mere concoction with loopholes that were revealed during
cross-examination. Her insistence that all the victims were stabbed
was disproved by medico-legal findings. Her testimony was
uncorroborated by either testimonial or physical evidence and was even
contradicted by the ocular inspection as observed by the presiding judge
himself. Admittedly holding a grudge against GRANADA, she is a biased
witness motivated by vindictiveness.

In their third assignment of error, appellants allege that the
circumstances relied upon by the trial court were not established with
certainty. The only circumstances proven were the basketball
altercation, the stoning of the Ronquillos’ house, FELIX’s attempt to
flee and the fact that the victims were fished out of the Pasig River.
Testimonies on the abduction are patently inconsistent with each other.
Nothing connects the appellants to the basketball altercation or the
stoning of the Ronquillos’ house. The link between appellants and the
De los Santos brothers is tenuous.

Appellants next assert that their defense of alibi gained strength
because they were not positively identified. They further maintain that
the use of superior force as a qualifying circumstance was not alleged
in the information and could not therefore serve to elevate the killing
to murder. Neither could treachery be considered, as there were no
witnesses to the actual killing. Lastly, appellants equate their move
to “clear their names” to the mitigating circumstance of voluntary
surrender.

We affirm the conviction of appellants. After a careful scrutiny of the
witnesses’ testimonies, we find that all the appellants were positively
identified as the ones who abducted and killed the victims.

I

JOSEPHINE readily recognized GRANADA from among the abductors who
alighted from the Fiera, as he was her neighbor and she has known him
since she was a child. In spite of the black handkerchief covering
GRANADA’s face, JOSEPHINE was familiar with his physique and physical
features, particularly his prematurely graying hair. She was in front
of the victims when they were abducted.[31] When part of the face of the
accused is not visible, positive identification is difficult.
Nevertheless when despite such artifice the witness is familiar with the
accused,[32] or his identity is not sufficiently hidden due to his
physical appearance,[33] or there are extraneous factors,[34]
recognition is facilitated. Identification becomes quite an easy task
even from a considerable distance, once a person has gained familiarity
with another.[35]

With regard to ABELLA, JOSEPHINE was able to recognize him as one of the
abductors because he had no cover on his face and he was a
“good-looking guy” who “could easily be remembered.” The alleged
inconsistency between her sworn statement where she failed to mention
ABELLA and her testimony in court is imaginary. JOSEPHINE’s testimony
was merely an amplification of her sworn statement in which she
admitted:

It is probable that she found out ABELLA’s name only after the sworn
statement was executed. There is no inconsistency when what the witness
stated in open court are but details or additional facts not mentioned
in the affidavit.[37]

EVELYN testified that she recognized the appellants as among the
abductors of the victims and then proceeded to name them in court.[38]
She particularly recognized GRANADA, as she had seen him on several
occasions. Her assertion that GRANADA’s face was not covered, contrary
to JOSEPHINE’s testimony, does not detract from the fact that GRANADA
was indeed one of the abductors. The handkerchief covering GRANADA’s
face could have fallen off in the course of the commotion. Besides, it
is not to be expected that all witnesses viewed the abduction at the
same stages.

WILFREDO was part of the victims’ group when the abduction took place,
but he ran for safety after one of the abductors fired warning shots.
He allegedly recognized GRANADA despite the handkerchief on the latter’s
face. GRANADA’s white hair and pointed nose became rooted in
WILFREDO’s consciousness as GRANADA got off the van, introduced himself
as a policeman, and fired two warning shots. Most often the face and
body movements of the assailant create an impression which cannot be
easily erased from memory.[39]

Not only was WILFREDO physically present and an eyewitness when the
abduction took place, but more importantly two of the victims were his
brothers. Blood relatives have a definite stake at seeing the guilty
person brought before the courts so that justice may be served. It
would be unnatural for a relative who is interested in vindicating the
crime to accuse somebody other than the real culprit.[40]

II

ELENA’s testimony is sufficient to convict appellants. She positively
identified all the appellants as among the passengers of the Fiera and
whom she saw torturing the victims. She could not have been mistaken in
identifying them because she knew them very well, they being deacons of
the INC.[41] She was only four meters away when the Fiera passed by
her.[42]Her identification must have been confirmed when appellants
alighted from the Fiera and proceeded to the so-called basement. Out of
curiosity, she followed and stayed near the door of the basement[43]
where she saw appellants and their cohorts maul and torture the victims.
Although the electric lights inside the compound were switched off she
could see the culprits and the mauling of the victims, since the place
was illuminated by two streetlights outside.[44]

The appellants attack, for being contrary to physical evidence, ELENA’s
testimony that she saw some of their cohorts, particularly Boy Valencia
and Virgilio de Guzman, stab the victims. Indeed, the post -mortem
examination on the bodies of the victims yielded no finding of stab
wounds. This physical evidence is a mute and an eloquent manifestation
of truth; it rates high in the hierarchy of trustworthy evidence.[45]
Thus, where the physical evidence runs counter to the testimony of the
prosecution witness, as in this case, the former should prevail.[46] At
any rate, when asked on cross-examination whether the victims suffered
stab wounds, ELENA answered, “Siguro po, hindi ko po alam.”[47]

ELENA must have been mistaken in her observation of the events or in her
recollection. But this is understandable, as several persons were
actively engaged in the mauling of the victims. It would have been
highly unlikely for her to remember accurately their movements. Lapse
of time blurs recollections. Human memory can be treacherous. It is a
very common thing for honest witnesses to confuse their recollection of
what they actually observed with what they have persuaded themselves to
have happened or with impressions and conclusions not really drawn from
their actual knowledge.[48]

While ELENA’s testimony on the stabbing does not ring true in the face
of the physical evidence, this does not mean that her entire testimony
is false or had been contrived. It is significant to note that her
identification of the appellants as malefactors was corroborated by the
other prosecution witnesses, who pointed to them as the victims’
abductors. Moreover, her testimony that they and their cohorts had
beaten the victims by using lead pipes and blunt instruments was
corroborated by the autopsy report, which revealed that most of the
victims sustained lacerated wounds, contusions and hematoma.

There is a general principle of law that where a witness has testified
falsely to some material matter in a case, his testimony in other
respects maybe disregarded unless it is corroborated by other proof.
This rule of law is expressed in the maxim “Falsus in uno, falsus in
omnibus.” This rule, however, has its own limitations, for when the
mistaken statement is consistent with good faith and is not conclusively
indicative of a deliberate perversion, the believable portion of the
testimony should be admitted. Although a person may err in memory or in
observation in one or more respects, he may have told the truth as to
other respects.[49] Elsewise stated, the maxim deals only with the
weight of evidence and is not a positive rule of universal application
and should not be applied to portions of the testimony corroborated by
other evidence, particularly where the false portions could be innocent
mistakes.[50]

Notwithstanding the false or mistaken statements, the trial judge, Judge
Makasiar, found ELENA’s version “impressive, as the manner of her
narration was straightforward, sincere, candid, frank and terse.”[51]
Like the other prosecution witnesses, she had been subjected to
“searching, grueling and consuming cross-examination by a determined,
brilliant, veteran and astute defense counsel, no less than retired
Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, such that any falsehood and
fabrication in [her] narration and identification of the four accused …
could have been easily detected and exposed.” But she passed the test.

Settled is the rule that the factual findings of the trial court,
especially on the credibility of witnesses are accorded great weight and
respect. This is so because the trial court has the advantage of
observing the witnesses through the different indicators of truthfulness
or falsehood, such as the angry flush of an insisted assertion, the
sudden pallor of a discovered lie, the tremulous mutter of a reluctant
answer, or the forthright tone of a ready reply; or the furtive glance,
the blush of conscious shame, the hesitation, the sincere or the
flippant sneering tone, the heat, the calmness, the yawn, the sigh, the
candor or lack of it, the scant or full realization of the solemnity of
an oath, the carriage and mien.[52]

Admittedly, ELENA’s testimony has some discrepancies. However, the trial court emphasized:

[I]t is to be expected that some discrepancies, and even
self-contradictions, will appear on cross-examination, especially where
the witness is of inferior mental capacity and without any experience in
court proceedings, like Elena Bernardo.[53]

The trial court correctly likened Elena’s testimony against appellants,
all of whom were ranking members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, as a
declaration against interest. This was so because her act of testifying
against them put her in danger of being expelled from the said sect.
In fact, as admitted by Pastor Cesar Almedina, he and many other local
officials of the Church recommended her expulsion allegedly on grounds
of non-attendance at church services and violation of the teachings,
doctrines, laws and tenets of the Iglesia, which were not, however,
specified by him. But the recommendation was disapproved by the Central
Office because of these cases.[54]

While ELENA admitted to having a grudge against GRANADA for arresting
his son-in-law sometime in 1991, her identification of him as one of the
perpetrators of the crime charged cannot be disregarded because it was
strongly corroborated by the three other prosecution witnesses, who
categorically pointed to him as one of the abductors. Her honesty in
admitting her dislike against GRANADA should be considered in her
favor.[55] The existence of such grudge does not automatically render
her testimony false and unreliable.[56] It must be noted that she had no
known quarrel with the other appellants to be considered as sufficient
motive in implicating them. Where there is no evidence and nothing to
indicate that a witness for the prosecution was actuated by improper
motive, the presumption is that she was not so actuated.

As to her long silence or reluctance to give her statement or to
testify, ELENA explained that she was initially barred by then Judge
Nitafan from testifying. Besides, there was a threat on her life by one
of the suspects in the killing of herein five victims.[57]
Nevertheless, she had already reported the incident to a certain Brother
Cerilo del Rosario, who replaced Pastor Almedina after the latter was
transferred to another chapel, and that sometime in 1993 she went to the
Central Office of the INC and related the whole event to Brother
Eduardo Manalo.[58]

At any rate, the failure of a witness to report to the police
authorities the crime that she had witnessed is not a matter affecting
her credibility. The natural reticence of most people to get involved
in a criminal case is of judicial notice.[59]

III

Concededly, there were no eyewitnesses to the actual killing of the
victims. But the following of circumstances leave no shred of doubt
that the appellants were the perpetrators of the crime:

On the morning of 7 March 1992, the victims MARLON and JOSEPH had a basketball altercation with JOEY and his two companions;

Later that day, JOEY was caught bringing two pillboxes to Dalisay Street, where the victims reside;

Between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. of 8 March 1992, JOEY and GENER, both members
of the INC, threw stones at the Ronquillos’ house, attracting the
attention of neighbors who in turn mauled them;

Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. of that same date, after the De los Santos
brothers pointed at the victims, the appellants and their cohorts picked
up and herded the victims into a Ford Fiera, which then sped away;

At about 10:00 p.m. the victims, except the one lying in the vehicle who
seemed either unconscious or dead, were brought to a so-called basement
in the Iglesia compound in Punta, Sta. Ana.There, they were mauled,
tortured and beaten by appellants, who were deacons of the INC, as well
as by their cohorts, using steel tubes, lead pipes, guns and other
blunt instruments. Thereafter, they were loaded into the van, which
forthwith sped out of the compound; and

Three days later, or on 10 March 1992, the victims’ bodies were found floating on the Pasig River, showing signs of foul play.

These circumstances are sufficient to establish the guilt of the
appellants beyond reasonable doubt of the crime charged. They
constitute an unbroken chain which leads to one fair and reasonable
conclusion pointing to the appellants, to the exclusion of all others,
as the guilty persons.[60]

IV

As for appellants’ defense of alibi, we have consistently held this to
be the weakest of all the defenses. Appellants were unable to show that
it was physically impossible for them to have been present at the scene
of the crime. GRANADA, DE GUZMAN and VALENCIA claimed to have been
attending the “Panata” rites on 8 March 1992, the date of the abduction
and mauling of the five victims. However, considering that there were
at least 200 members of the INC who attended the panata, it was possible
for them to have sneaked out unnoticed into the Ford Fiera to Lakas
Street, picked up the five victims and waited in the evening for the
grounds to be deserted before bringing them inside the INC compound.
Neither was ABELLA able to show by clear and convincing evidence that it
was physically impossible for him to go from his alleged post at the
corner of T.M. Kalaw St. and Roxas Boulevard to Lakas Street, Bacood,
Sta. Mesa. Thus, appellants’ defense of alibi must fail. Besides, such
defense is worthless in view of the positive identification of
appellants as the culprits.

V

We agree with the trial court that the killing was characterized by
treachery. It is true that treachery should normally attend at the
inception of the aggression. However, when the victim was first seized
and bound and then slain, treachery is present.[61] In this case, it is
enough to point out that the victims’ hands were tied at the back when
their bodies were found floating in Pasig River. This fact clearly
shows that the victims were rendered defenseless and helpless, thereby
allowing the appellants to commit the crime without risk at all to their
persons.

The circumstance of abuse of superior strength was absorbed in treachery
and cannot be considered as an independent aggravating circumstance.
It need not be alleged in the information, as treachery was adequate to
elevate the killing to murder.

VI

We cannot equate appellants’ move to “clear their names” as voluntary
surrender. For a surrender to be voluntary, it must be spontaneous and
should show the intent of the accused to submit himself unconditionally
to the authorities, either because (1) he acknowledges his guilt or (2)
he wishes to save the government the trouble and expense necessarily
included for his search and capture.[62] In an analogous case, we have
held that when the accused goes to a police station merely to clear his
name and not to give himself up, voluntary surrender may not be
appreciated.[63]

Lastly, we affirm the awards made by the trial court except as to the
awards of moral and exemplary damages, which are, however, reduced from
P500,000 to P50,000 each.

WHEREFORE, the challenged decision of Branch 35 of the Regional Trial
Court of Manila in Criminal Cases Nos. 96-104529 to -33 is hereby
AFFIRMED with the modification that the awards of moral and exemplary
damages are hereby reduced from P500,000 to P50,000 each.

Pasugo July August 1988 pp. 6.“Even secular history shows a direct time link between the Catholic Church and the Apostles, leading to the conclusion that the true Church of Christ is the Catholic Church.”